A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 12 November to Sunday 18 November 2018.
Monday, 12 November 2018
Bahamas Successful in Bid for Seat on ITU Council
Bahamas – When the new session of the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), meets to begin its work for the next four years, The Bahamas will be seated as one of the Council’s 48 member states… more
Turning Grand Bahama into a Tech Hub
Bahamas – “The government has already begun implementing recommendations of the Steering Committee to make technology hub a reality,” Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson told participants at the recent first Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference, in Freeport… more
Wisroc community benefits from ICT hub
Guyana – The Wisroc community at Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) is one of the most recent to benefit from an Information Communication Technology hub… more
Cable & Wireless Reports Preliminary Q3 2018 Results1 Fixed and B2B Performance Drive 1% Rebased Revenue Growth Operating Income of $76 million; Net Loss of $3 million Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $232 million, 3% YoY Rebased Growth
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications Limited (“C&W”) is a leading telecommunications operator in its consumer markets, which are predominantly located in the Caribbean and Latin America, providing entertainment, information and communication services to 3.3 million mobile, 0.6 million internet, 0.6 million fixed-line telephony and 0.4 million video subscribers… more
Digicel launches island-wide Saint Lucia 4G network
Saint Lucia – Digicel Saint Lucia announced that it’s become the first operator to offer 4G-LTE coverage across the whole of the island nation… more
Tuesday, 13 November 2018
Anguilla represented at Open-source Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Workshop
Anguilla – Anguilla participated in aint Luciathe recently concluded open-source Geographic Information Systems (GIS) workshop sponsored by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in collaboration with the World Bank, from November 5th – 9th, 2018 in Gros-Islet, Saint Lucia… more
BAHAMAS: Prime Minister to Open Second Annual GB Technology Summit
Bahamas – Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Hubert Minnis is expected to be keynote speaker at the opening of the Second Annual Grand Bahama Technology Summit, November 14 to 16, 2018 at the Grand Lucayan… more
BTC employees say ‘no’ to call center shutdown
Bahamas – Nearly two dozen employees at The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), alongside union representatives, staged a lunchtime demonstration on Monday. The group is staunchly opposing the company’s plans to right size by shutting down its call center in The Bahamas… more
Cloud Carib Sponsors Grand Bahama Technology Summit
Bahamas – The Bahamas gears up to host its second annual technology summit this week in Grand Bahama, bringing global experts from tech companies and regional entities to the island of Grand Bahama to discuss digital transformation… more
Locally-based blockchain firm attracts four major clients
Bahamas – Locally-based blockchain technology services company Unify Earth Systems, which invented Blockchain 3.0, has already found success, attracting four major clients focused on achieving the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)… more
Union Fear Over BTC Downsizing
Bahamas– BTC unions yesterday protested further downsizing at the telecommunications company, namely the outsourcing of its call centre… more
Business Process Outsourcing Revolution: Is Barbados ready?
Barbados– Outsourcing of various non-core services started with multinational and large enterprise corporations, and emerged as a mainstream business in the mid-1990s… more
Tech Beach returns – building a technology and innovation ecosystem
Jamaica – The global community will convene at the luxurious Iberostar Grand Rose Hall resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from November 29 to December 1, 2018 for the annual Tech Beach Retreat aimed at connecting wealth and resources with ideas and opportunity… more
Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Minister refuses to reveal more of tech hub deal
Cayman Islands – The minister of commerce has declined to reveal any more of the very heavily redacted deal he signed with TechCayman because, he said, it was a confidential agreement… more
Cable & Wireless To Cancel Shares Held By Minority Owners
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Cable & Wireless Jamaica, C&WJ, which trades as Flow Jamaica, confirmed that its parent company aims to take 100 per cent control of outstanding shares… more
Jamaican BPO Sector Plays Significant Role In Economy, Says PM … New Company Will Help To Grow Knowledge Process Outsourcing
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness is touting the importance of appreciating the value of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector to the Jamaican economy… more
Fintech broadening its horizions
Jamaica – TECH Beach Retreat this year brings world-class keynote speakers, panel discussions, fireside chats, workshops, nightlife and live entertainment all surrounding an ecosystem of progressive conversations about critical technological entities of our era, such as artificial intelligence, and how it can be leveraged in different domains, including education… more
KPMG enters outsourcing industry
Jamaica – JAMAICA’S strategic location in relation to the United States has given rise to another business opportunity, this time between audit and accounting firm KPMG Jamaica and member firm, KPMG US… more
Shaw urges community tourism stakeholders to embrace Airbnb
Jamaica – Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw, has called for the increased integration of Airbnb operations into community tourism offerings… more
Cryptocurrencies are proving a tough classification nut to crack
Regional – The roller-coaster ride of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies has sparked the interest of many investors… more
Talks to delay Digicel debt repayments ‘going well’, O’Brien says
Regional – Businessman Denis O’Brien has insisted that talks by his telecommunications group Digicel with bondholders on delaying the repayment of some $3 billion (€2.6 billion) of debt were “going well”, even though the company has had to repeatedly extended a deadline for the creditors to sign up to the plan… more
TelEm Group getting all ‘Wacky’ for Nov. 23 Blowout Promotion.
Sint Maarten– TelEm Group’s Marketing & Sales team are getting all “Wacky” again with plans to turn St. Maarten’s annual Black Friday sales into a “Wacky Telco Friday” bonanza for customers and friends… more
Suriname Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Market Outlook 2018 – Growth Drivers, Opportunities and Forecast Analysis 2023
Suriname– Suriname’s economy showing return to growth… more
Cisco, Digicel Foundation join forces in Digital Citizenship Programme
Trinidad and Tobago – In continuing its commitment to the Digital Citizenship Programme, the Digicel Foundation has partnered with the Cisco Networking Academy for the period 2018 -2020… more
Cryptocurrency education at Finance Week 2018
Trinidad and Tobago – CRYPTOCURRENCY is one of the items on the agenda when the 2018 Financial Literacy breakfast meeting takes place today from 8am at the Penthouse of the Victor E Bruce Financial Complex… more
T&T Telecommunications Services sending home over 100 employees
Trinidad and Tobago – Over 100 workers are expected to be sent home as the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) begins the implementation of its “new structure… more
Thursday, 15 November 2018
Bahamas operator Aliv tops 125,000 customers
Bahamas– Bahamas mobile operator Aliv has reached a customer base of over 125,000 around 2 years after launching, reports local news site Tribune 242, citing company CEO Damian Blackburn… more
GB Tech Summit attracts hundreds
Bahamas – The second installment of the Grand Bahama Tech Summit kicked off in the nation’s second city on Wednesday morning and according to Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama, the event attracted a larger number of participants than initially expected… more
Govt signs MOU with Cisco Systems on tech education
Bahamas – The government of The Bahamas signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with networking hardware company Cisco Systems yesterday which will develop educational opportunities for Bahamians in the technology sector… more
Union In Trade Dispute
Bahamas – The trade union representing Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) line staff yesterday filed a dispute over the company’s alleged failure to enter “good faith” talks on a new industrial deal… more
BCPOU FILES TRADE DISPUTE AGAINST BTC
Bahamas – The Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) yesterday filed an industrial trade dispute with the Department of Labour against the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (BTC) as the company continues downsizing… more
BTC Union In Trade Dispute
Bahamas – The trade union representing Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) line staff yesterday filed a dispute over the company’s alleged failure to enter “good faith” talks on a new industrial deal… more
Dominican techs ready country’s first satellite for orbit
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic is taking steps to develop its first satellite that will orbit in space, in what would be the country’s first space mission… more
Creators of technology
Trinidad and Tobago – The desire to make TT a “safer and better place” was the overriding idea behind the app (software application) that propelled Chaguanas North Secondary School to first place in the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (Cariri) Young Innovators Mobile App competition (YIMAC)… more
Jack: Digital currency impacting financial sector
Trinidad and Tobago – UNDERSTANDING FinTech, blockchain technology and digital currencies were the main topics of the THA Division of Finance and the Economy’s 2nd annual financial literacy breakfast meeting on Wednesday… more
Retrenchment letters issued: TSTT to send home 503 workers
Trinidad and Tobago – Retrenchment notices have been issued to 503 junior and senior employees at the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT)… more
TSTT cuts 503 workers
Trinidad and Tobago – Some 503 Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) workers have received termination letters… more
Friday, 16 November 2018
Cashless bus system pilot program being introduced
Bahamas – President of the Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union (BUBDU) Frederick Farrington said the introduction of a smart card reader that uses WiFi – a device that’s already provided on some jitneys – will usher in a cashless bus system… more
Progress being made on crypto assets legislation
Bahamas – The Bahamas is only weeks away from publishing a paper that will create legislation to regulate crypto assets, Executive Director of the Bahamas Securities Commission Christina Rolle said yesterday, explaining that if it is not passed in the next six months, The Bahamas could be far behind the rest of the world… more
Significant opportunities for Bahamians in technology sector, says Moxey
Bahamas – There is a significant opportunity for Bahamians to integrate and involve themselves in the rapidly advancing technology space, Chairman of the Technology Hub Steering Committee Dr. Donovan Moxey said yesterday… more
Digicel Bond Swap Extended Again
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Digicel Group has delayed yet again the deadline for its offer to bondholders, aimed at extending the timeline for repayment on US$3 billion of its debt by two years… more
Flow Jamaica Goes Hybrid With Data Plans To Gin Up Prepaid Revenue
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Flow Jamaica, which is turning to so-called hybrid plans meant to have subscribers spend more on its services, is already seeing a six per cent gain in sales relative to a year ago… more
FLOW To Adjourn Court Action Against NWA, CHEC Over Roadwork Damage
Jamaica – Telecommunications company FLOW Jamaica has reportedly agreed to seek an adjournment of its court action against the National Works Agency and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to seek remedy for the displacement and financial loss being caused by corporate area roadworks… more
FLOW to submit claim to CHEC for damage to its infrastructure
Jamaica – Telecommunications company FLOW is to submit a claim to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for compensation for damage to its infrastructure as a result of road works in the Corporate Area… more
New JTB Website A Game-Changer – Minister Bartlett
Jamaica– Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has described as game-changing a new website developed by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) to market and promote Jamaica as a tourist destination… more
NTRC I2: PBSS, SVGS Out Front
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The Petit Bordel Secondary School (PBSS) is, for the second year running, winner of the Secondary Schools Idea Category of the 2018 NTRC I2 Competition… more
‘Not a priority’: Central Bank not ready for digital currency
Trinidad and Tobago – While the Central Bank welcomes technological developments that strengthen efficiency and financial inclusion, the establishment of a Central Bank digital currency is not a priority at this time… more
TSTT’s bosses have a lot to answer for
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT is apparently poised to become an aftershock of the strong Petrotrin quake. This, according to many commentators… more
TSTT CEO: 200 more workers to go home
Trinidad and Tobago – At the end of their restructuring process, the Telecommunications Service of T&T (TSTT) intends to send home 700 employees said Ronald Walcott, TSTT’s CEO… more
Saturday, 17 November 2018
BAHAMAS: Teachers Key to Moving to Digital
Bahamas – Teachers will be key to the success in ‘digitalizing’ learning institutions in the country, said Minister of Education, the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd during the Grand Bahama Technology Summit on Friday, November 16, 2018… more
CH&PA ups service with GIS, drone imagery
Guyana – The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) says it has been improving the delivery of its services with the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)… more
TSTT’s Troubles
Trinidad and Tobago – In a wide-ranging interview with CNC3’s Judy Kanhai on Friday, TSTTS CEO Dr Ronald Walcott said the company was “heading down the path of insolvency” and had no choice but to cut staff… more
Sunday, 18 November 2018
Motorists warned CCTV cameras operational
Guyana – All Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at key city intersections are functioning, according to Traffic Chief, Superintendent Linden Isles. He warned that drivers will continue to be prosecuted… more
Gearing Up For A Digital Dollar
Regional– The Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) may soon be trading in digital dollars as the Central Bank moves to reduce its dependence on paper currency. Speaking at the Caribbean Association of Banks’ 45th conference last week, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Timothy Antoine said around 80 per cent of all purchases in the region are paid for with cash or cheque and he wants to see that reduced by half in the next five years… more
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